Anders Anders Lyrics in English by Herman Van Veen
The word anders literally means 'different' or 'otherwise'. While it's a common Dutch word, its repeated use in this song is what makes it truly special and unique.
Herman Van Veen uses it to describe a love that isn't 'more' beautiful or 'more' sweet, but 'differently' beautiful and 'differently' sweet. It highlights the unique and incomparable qualities of the person he loves, emphasizing that their beauty, kindness, and loyalty are special in their own distinct way, rather than just being a higher degree of common traits.
“Anders Anders” is Herman van Veen’s playful love letter to individuality. Throughout the song he repeats a simple pattern: “You are beautiful, not more beautiful, you are beautiful in a different way.” By listing qualities like kind, gentle, generous, and even “thick or thin,” he keeps rejecting comparisons. Instead of saying someone is better, he insists they are simply different – and loved precisely for that difference.
All the while, the chorus bursts with “’k hou van jou” (I love you), hammering home an uplifting message: true affection is not a contest of who is “more” or “most,” but a celebration of unique flavor and personality. The song’s hypnotic repetition wraps the listener in warmth, reminding us that real love sees us as we are and joys in every quirky, one-of-a-kind detail.
